MLL

Hamilton Downs Playoff Bound Lizards 18-8

from press release

HAMILTON, Ontario, Canada - Midfielder Rhys
Duch scored five goals and added two assists as the Hamilton
Nationals ended the season by earning an 18-8 Major League Lacrosse
victory over the Long Island Lizards at Ron Joyce Stadium on
Saturday evening.

Despite the loss, the Lizards earned the fourth seed in the 2012
MLL Championship Weekend presented by Warrior and will face
top-seeded Denver in the first semi-final on Saturday, August 25 at
1 p.m. at Harvard Stadium.

After rookie attackman Tommy Palasek gave Long Island a quick
1-0 lead in the first 80 seconds of the opening quarter, the
Nationals tallied six unanswered goals, including a two-point goal
from midfielder Donny Moss, to take a commanding 7-1 lead with
11:01 left in the second quarter.

With 7:58 remaining in the first half, midfielder Stephen Peyser
scored an unassisted goal to trim the deficit to 7-2 before the
Nationals added three consecutive goals, upping their advantage to
10-2 with 3:50 left.

A pair of goals, including a two-point marker from Peyser,
narrowed the Lizards' deficit to 10-5 at the intermission.

Led by a goal and an assist from Duch, the Nationals expanded
their advantage to 13-5 by scoring three consecutive goals to begin
the third quarter. However, the Lizards answered with a pair of
goals, including a two-point marker from attackman Max Seibald, to
close the gap to 13-8 with 14:36 remaining in regulation.

However, the Nationals put the game out of reach by scoring five
goals in a row, including a goal and an assist from midfielder Joe
Walters.

Duch, who was named as the Bud Light MLL Player of the Game, led
the Nationals with his seven-point performance while Walters
contributed a goal with four assists.

Peyser led the Lizards with two goals, including a two-point
marker, in a losing effort.